Notices and Agreements

Amazon Studios is developing feature-length movies, and drama, comedy, and kids’ series. On this page, we provide guidelines that we encourage you to follow. Adhering to these guidelines will allow Amazon Studios to evaluate your work for our Development Slate.

Overall Guidelines

How should my script be formatted?

All submissions should be in standard screenplay format, using Courier 12-point font. Here are some guidelines:

Page size: 8-1/2 by 11 inches

Page margins: 1.5 inches (left), 1 inch (right, top, bottom)

Scene heading (slugline): 1.5 inches indented

Action: 1.5 inches indented

Dialogue: 2.5 inches indented

Character names: 3.5 inches indented

Please make sure your script does not include images or excessive amounts of special text such as bold, italic or underline.

How long should my script or video be?

Movie screenplay: 85-160 pages

Movie concept video: 2-15 minutes

Drama series pilot script: 50-70 pages

Comedy series pilot script: For single-camera series, scripts should be 36 pages or shorter (single-spaced); for multi-camera, 54 pages or shorter (double-spaced).

Kids series mini-bible: 2-6 pages

What file format should I use for my script?

Amazon Storywriter: you may submit your script directly from within Amazon Storywriter. This will automatically create a professionally-formatted PDF for the Amazon Studios development staff to review;

PDF: this may make it easier for you to format your script, and for others to read and review it if you choose to make it public;

RTF: saving your script in .rtf format allows it to be opened and edited in all word-processing applications and facilitates collaboration.

What language can my script or video be in?

The common language for the Amazon Studios development staff is English. So unless your script, video, or series idea has English description and dialogue (or the text for English subtitles to non-English dialogue) throughout, it will not be evaluated for the Development Slate.

Can I use works in the public domain?

Public domain works are those that are available for use by members of the public. We don't prohibit you from using public domain works but we discourage you from doing so and you'd have to make sure that the work is in the public domain in every country around the world. Public domain laws vary around the world and can be tricky. For instance, you might think you are in the clear because you are adapting a very old work, but you may be using a modern translation that is copyrighted. Bottom line: Except in the most obvious cases, like Shakespeare, we discourage adaptations of works you think are in the public domain. This same notion applies to music, photos or other images. The work may be very old, but it's not necessarily free of rights issues.

Submitting a Movie Script

How do I submit my movie script?

Open the "Submit" menu at the top right of any Amazon Studios page, then select "Submit a script". We'll then walk you through submitting your script step by step.

How do I choose whether to make my project private or public?

New projects are private by default, which means that only Amazon Studios staff can view them.
If you choose to keep your project private, only Amazon Studios staff will be able to access your script for evaluation. Your script won't be made publicly available at Amazon Studios unless you enter into an option agreement with us and we add your property to the Amazon Studios’ development slate, or you choose to make it public.

If you choose to make your project public, Amazon Studios staff will still evaluate your script, and it will also be immediately available on Amazon Studios site for public feedback. The Amazon Studios platform is designed to help you connect with other writers, if you want feedback on your project. Sometimes an outside perspective can be just what you need to solve problems with a story or bring entirely new and exciting elements into play.

You can change the visibility of your project at any time by visiting your project page and clicking the “Make project public” or “Make project private” button under the project title.

Submitting a Series Idea

How do I submit my series idea?

Open the "Submit" menu at the top right of any Amazon Studios page, then under Series, select the type of series idea you'd like to submit. We'll then walk you through submitting your series idea step by step.

What do I need to submit a new series idea?

A drama or comedy series proposal must include a pilot script. This should be the series at its best, but not necessarily an origin story.

A children's series proposal must include a mini-bible. This should describe the series in general, and its main characters; tell where the series is going and whether episodes are serial or standalone; and include five or six episode ideas.

Submitting a Video

How do I submit a concept video?

Open the "Submit" menu at the top right of any Amazon Studios page, then select "Submit a video". We'll then walk you through submitting your video step by step.

What kind of video should I submit?

We’re looking for videos that give a glimpse into what an amazing movie your idea could become. To be considered, it should present a linear narrative and be 2-15 minutes in length. Other than that, it’s up to you.

How do I upload my video in the right format?

It is important to create your video using the right compression method, which will turn your large video into a more manageable form. Our systems accept files created using the MPEG-2, MPEG-4 and H.264 video compression methods. Creating your content using the right compression method varies depending on the video-editing program you are using (iMovie, Final Cut Express, Sony Vegas, etc.). Most editors give you an option to "Save" (and/or "Save As") and a separate option to "Publish", "Export", "Share", "Create Movie", "Create Video File" or "Send to Compressor". When uploading to Amazon Studios, choose the option to create/share/export/publish your work. (If you just "save", you're saving every unedited element of your work together into a bundle that will not upload to Amazon Studios successfully.)

When you create your video content, most video-editing programs ask you to choose the kind of file you want to create by asking how you plan to use the work (viewing on a DVD, use on a computer, use in an email, etc.). The important thing is that it creates your video using the MPEG-2, MPEG-4 or H.264 (also known as AVC) compression methods. MPEG-4 and H.264 are actually the same and are better than MPEG-2 because your file will be about 80% smaller so it will take less time to upload. If your editor asks you what purpose you are using it for, somewhere it should also indicate the format it is going to use when it outputs. Pay attention to the format and pick H.264, MPEG-4, AVC or, as a last resort, MPEG-2. If you have multiple good options, select the highest quality one. HD is fine.

Please note that the compression method is not the same as the file extension. A movie encoded in MPEG-4 may appear as .mp4 (Sony), .mov (iMovie), or some other file extension. The file extension doesn't really matter. The key is to select a file type that says it is using AVC, MPEG-4 or H.264 compression (or, failing those, MPEG-2).

I’m having trouble uploading video. What should I do?

The Amazon Studios Uploader is designed to make submitting video or audio content as convenient as possible. It should work well with all modern web browsers (Internet Explorer 10+, Firefox, Chrome, Safari 6+). If you are using one of these browsers from a laptop or desktop computer, and are having trouble uploading your video, please contact Customer Service.

We do not fully support uploading scripts or videos directly from mobile or tablet devices (such as Kindle Fire or iPad), so we recommend you upload your submission from a desktop or laptop computer.

Do I have the proper permissions for what is written in my script or heard or seen in my video content?

We're looking for projects that can be produced, and in order to do that, you must have all rights to the story, dialogue, characters and all other elements of your scripts and video content.

You can license clips, music and photographs to include in your video content without obtaining all rights to them as long as you obtain rights broad enough to permit us to review the work, and if you make it public, to distribute it by any form of distribution. It's your responsibility to ensure that your rights in your script or video permit you to give us those rights.

One way to ensure that you have all rights to your script or video content is to upload content that is 100% new and original to you. You should also get releases from all actors that appear in your video or provide voiceovers, and from anyone else that helped you create your work.

I want music and/or sound effects in my video content: How can I get some legally?

You may use original music, created by you or someone you ask to help you. By original, we mean truly new music that is not a remix or a cover and that does not sample other music. If someone creates original music for your work, you should have them sign a music release. (For example, see the "Test movie music release form" below.) This also applies to sound effects.

You also can license music and sound effects, but you will need to get a written license agreement and ensure that you obtain rights broad enough to permit all of the uses described above.

I want to make video content that contains photographs or other images: How can I get some legally?

You can use photographs that you take yourself or that you ask someone to take for you. You can also use your own drawings and other images you make. However, if someone takes a photograph or creates a drawing or other image for you, you should have them sign a release. (For example, see the "Photo/footage release form" below.) Altering a photograph or image with a program such as Photoshop, for example, does not necessarily alter the underlying rights to that image.

You also can license photographs and stock footage from companies, but you will need to get a written license agreement and ensure that you obtain rights broad enough to permit use in revisions of your content and distribution of your content (and any revisions of it) by any form of distribution. We have provided some links to licensors that may have appropriate photographs and images on the Getting Started page.

Samples of the types of releases and notices that you may want to use

We provide these releases and notices for information purposes only. These may not work for your purposes and they don't necessarily work in all jurisdictions. It is still your responsibility to ensure that you have all rights to the elements that you contribute in your scripts and video content.